My fiance had a wicked pill addiction about 5 years ago. He was taking anything he could get his hands on. When he finally came clean and admitted there was a problem,, he got into a Methadone program. That was 4 years ago. For the past year, he's been tapering down and was finally down to 5mg a day. Christmas Eve, he told me that he was done being a slave to methadone, he wanted his life back. The clinic he went to made him go in 4 days a week to get his dose and take home, they had been messing up his dose from carelessness, and he was ready to be done.
He had assumed at 5mg a day, that it would be fairly easy. He has been doing good. He's determined and strong willed and made up his mind, going back to methadone is not an option, he wants to be done.
He's had some diarrhea and muscle pain, lack of energy, but has been functioning well and able to help care for our boys. He picked this time because I only work 3 days this week and the kids are off school so I will be home to help with kids and it will be easier for him.
Last night he started violently throwing up. He woke me and asked for a bucket which he filled all the way up in minutes and I was able to help him get to the bathroom. He was restless in bed last night but eventually fell asleep. I am worriedvthia is going to get worse, after reading a lot on line about withdrawals.
I guess, I am curious, how long will this last? He's been tapering for a year from 80mg and has been constantly feeling off with the taper so he really thought at this point, withdrawing from 5mg would be easier. I don't use, never used drugs, methadone, so I am clueless to what he is going through.
I just am wondering for my own benefit, at what point should this ease up? He's stocked on vitamins, has some valium, and is trying to do all he can to get through. Even now, he's said no way is he going back to pills or methadone, he's done, just gotta get through.
Anyone have a time frame? Any insight into what is to come or how long before he starts feeling better?
Decca things will get better but the bad thing is methadone has a long half life meaning every few days 1/2 of your last dose is still in your system. I am now over 140 days since my last dose and the worst was lack of sleep but everyone is different. Keep him drinking lots of water and the more he sweats the better because that is the methadone leaving his body. Take hot baths for muscle pain and let me know when he starts having restless leg syndrome and I can help you with that as well. God bless and I will be praying for him.
Thanks for the response!
He's starting day 7. It appears the upset stomach and diarrhea is slowly going away. At night the restless leg is killing him and he cannot sleep. He got 4 hours of sleep last night but still up at 3am and is so cranky!
I bought him some magnesium/calcium/zinc pills after reading that they may help. But I imagine they may take a bit to help. He's drinking tons of water and Gatorade. Taking multivitamins in addition to the mag/calc/zinc and taking melatonin at night. I know there isn't a quick fix, unfortunately. I just keep telling him each day he's closer to a week and today is the one week mark. I think everything appears amplified for him because he cannot sleep and the restless leg gets him at night. Totally open to suggestion for the restless leg....and any ideas on how to get him some sleep.
I keep telling him that he will sleep again, this is just temporary. He's still determined though and that's a good thing!
He's starting day 7. It appears the upset stomach and diarrhea is slowly going away. At night the restless leg is killing him and he cannot sleep. He got 4 hours of sleep last night but still up at 3am and is so cranky!
I bought him some magnesium/calcium/zinc pills after reading that they may help. But I imagine they may take a bit to help. He's drinking tons of water and Gatorade. Taking multivitamins in addition to the mag/calc/zinc and taking melatonin at night. I know there isn't a quick fix, unfortunately. I just keep telling him each day he's closer to a week and today is the one week mark. I think everything appears amplified for him because he cannot sleep and the restless leg gets him at night. Totally open to suggestion for the restless leg....and any ideas on how to get him some sleep.
I keep telling him that he will sleep again, this is just temporary. He's still determined though and that's a good thing!
I also quick Christmas Day I've been prescribed methadone for 15 years 40 milligrams a day for chronic pain advanced modium seems to help the most for the stomach problems.
Decca try heating pads for the restless leg and a hot bath before bed, for sleep make sure he goes to bed at the same time, ready up on sleep hygiene.
Thanks!
We're going into day 9. At this point, he's sleeping, and able to function, but the anxiety is killing him. We are looking into vitamins that may help with such awful anxiety to see if he can get something to help without getting into pills again. Given his addictions, he cannot get xanax or ativan or anything because he will abuse them. He is going to see his doctor in the upcoming week and get back on his antidepressants so that will be very helpful going forward. He quit those when his addictions started, but getting back onto them will help tremendously. Once the diarrhea goes away and he can get his anxiety under control, I think he will be able to fully function again. I hope!
Daniel - Good for you for quitting!! I'm not an addict, but have been living with an addict for 14 years, since I was 21. So while I don't personally know what it's like myself, I feel like I've seen it all with him, all the attempts to withdraw from drugs and alcohol. I know right now, the vitamins are really really helping him so much. He's taking a multi vitamin for energy with extra vitamin B and then melatonin each night (10mg at 8pm each night) and then magnesium/calcium/zinc pills (700mg in the AM, 350 mg mid-day, and 700mg at night) and after 3 days of taking those (he started at day 4), it really seemed to help. I don't know if it was time, making it to day 7 that helped, or if it was the vitamins or a combo of two, but after 3 days of vitamins he felt so much better. The anxiety is awful right now for him. I think if he relapses, it will be the anxiety that gets him. So we are looking into the vitamin side of managing anxiety until he gets on an antidepressant again and that should help too. But in the midst of all this - each day is an accomplishment! Each day you are one day closer to being done with withdrawal! Each day you are closer to re-claiming your life and being free from your addiction! Hang in there, keep going! I'm rooting for ya!! :)
We're going into day 9. At this point, he's sleeping, and able to function, but the anxiety is killing him. We are looking into vitamins that may help with such awful anxiety to see if he can get something to help without getting into pills again. Given his addictions, he cannot get xanax or ativan or anything because he will abuse them. He is going to see his doctor in the upcoming week and get back on his antidepressants so that will be very helpful going forward. He quit those when his addictions started, but getting back onto them will help tremendously. Once the diarrhea goes away and he can get his anxiety under control, I think he will be able to fully function again. I hope!
Daniel - Good for you for quitting!! I'm not an addict, but have been living with an addict for 14 years, since I was 21. So while I don't personally know what it's like myself, I feel like I've seen it all with him, all the attempts to withdraw from drugs and alcohol. I know right now, the vitamins are really really helping him so much. He's taking a multi vitamin for energy with extra vitamin B and then melatonin each night (10mg at 8pm each night) and then magnesium/calcium/zinc pills (700mg in the AM, 350 mg mid-day, and 700mg at night) and after 3 days of taking those (he started at day 4), it really seemed to help. I don't know if it was time, making it to day 7 that helped, or if it was the vitamins or a combo of two, but after 3 days of vitamins he felt so much better. The anxiety is awful right now for him. I think if he relapses, it will be the anxiety that gets him. So we are looking into the vitamin side of managing anxiety until he gets on an antidepressant again and that should help too. But in the midst of all this - each day is an accomplishment! Each day you are one day closer to being done with withdrawal! Each day you are closer to re-claiming your life and being free from your addiction! Hang in there, keep going! I'm rooting for ya!! :)
Becca Thanks I'm going to try the vitamins. last night the restless leg problem. understand what kicking the habit means now. but overall I'm feeling better. I went to Walmart and got a heat massager. $35. it's been worth every penny. I fell asleep with it on last night it felt so good. happy New Year to you . one week today
Happy New Years and Happy One week!!!
Becca how is he doing. it's anything like me I know it's still hard. but hard things are worth doing just to let you know I'm still hanging in there.
Glad you're still hanging in there!! Pure determination right there, I don't know you but I am proud of you and anyone who can keep pushing forward!
J (My fiance) is hanging in there. Day 10 is coming to a close. Diarrhea is still ongoing, though we all actually went shopping today - a short trip but still first time he's left the house in a week almost. He says he isn't sleeping - though whenever I wake up, he's snoring away, he doesn't seem as restless when he's asleep, but I think he wakes often and overall probably gets about 4 to 6 hours of sleep which is far less than he's used to. He has no energy, probably lack of sleep, anxiety is high.
He is the stay at home dad to our boys - does all their appointments (our youngest is autistic which kicks anxiety up when the little has bad days), he does school drop off/pick up. Kids go back Monday so he will have time to exercise and go for runs to help with the anxiety some, I hope. He'll call his doctor Monday and see if she can help him with something to sleep at least. He's gonna just go and come clean that he's off the methadone and see what she can do and a good check up to see how his body is handling this is probably for the best.
Yanno, I wish there were a time frame for withdrawal, so you could actually know at what point he'll feel normal again - but everyone is different. I thought it was getting better, in many ways he is feeling better, his body doesn't ache and that's great. But the lack of sleep has his energy so far down, I think that's the worst. Tomorrow's a new day - hopefully better than today!
J (My fiance) is hanging in there. Day 10 is coming to a close. Diarrhea is still ongoing, though we all actually went shopping today - a short trip but still first time he's left the house in a week almost. He says he isn't sleeping - though whenever I wake up, he's snoring away, he doesn't seem as restless when he's asleep, but I think he wakes often and overall probably gets about 4 to 6 hours of sleep which is far less than he's used to. He has no energy, probably lack of sleep, anxiety is high.
He is the stay at home dad to our boys - does all their appointments (our youngest is autistic which kicks anxiety up when the little has bad days), he does school drop off/pick up. Kids go back Monday so he will have time to exercise and go for runs to help with the anxiety some, I hope. He'll call his doctor Monday and see if she can help him with something to sleep at least. He's gonna just go and come clean that he's off the methadone and see what she can do and a good check up to see how his body is handling this is probably for the best.
Yanno, I wish there were a time frame for withdrawal, so you could actually know at what point he'll feel normal again - but everyone is different. I thought it was getting better, in many ways he is feeling better, his body doesn't ache and that's great. But the lack of sleep has his energy so far down, I think that's the worst. Tomorrow's a new day - hopefully better than today!
Becca I want to say it's been wonderful to hear how other people are making it. day 9 I'm asking if you feels like I do I'm a little weak. but I'll remind myself hard things are worth doing. I hear so much discouraging news that the thought of trying this by myself is really hard. I'm still glad I'm hanging in there though. most of the dysentery is gone and I'm trying to get some vitamins in me for a little strength. I'm still drinking green tea to keep fluids in me. I know everybody's different but if I can do this so can they be proud of your man.
